Sign cabinet



Oct. 18, 1932. J. c. DALEY SIGN- CABINET Filed April 21, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l fivenian .fa'm ea (Idle ilmat/ M7 Oct. 18, 1932. J. c. DAYLEY SIGN CABINET Filed April 21. 1950 4 Sheets- Sheet 2 Oct. 18, 1932. c, DALEY 1,883,768

SIGN CABINET Filed April 21, 1950- 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 Oct. 18, 1932. J. c. DALEY 1,833,763

' SIGN CABINET Filed April 21. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I JAMES C. DALEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'IO JEFFERSON ELECTRIC Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS sren 0113mm.

3 Application filed April '21,

This invention relates to sign cabinets and more particularly to cabinets for gaseous tube signs. I I

The usual practice at present is to seal the transformer for the gaseous tube-s in a box ouit is eliminated.

which is in turn'mounted in thesign cabinet, the tube. being supported upon the 'si cabinet entirely independently of the sealln box.

I find that these combination outer cabinets and inner sealing boxes require structure and operations which may be eliminated and that their bulk and the space required in their use may be reduced. 7

It isv therefore an object of my present invention to eliminate some of the structure and operations necessary in the inner box and outer cabinet devices of the prior art and to reduce the bulk and space required by such devices. Accordingly I seal the transformer or transformers directly in the outer cabinet and support the neon or other-gaseous tube electrodes directly upon the sealing cabinet.

Neon or analogous gaseous tube signs are at present of different types; The electrodes of-som'e are in the form of jack or plug electrodes adapted to be plugged in and withdrawn from cooperating electrodes for quick detachable connection, whereas in others the wires extend from the electrode ends of the tubes to be "wired or connected within the cabinet. The present invention provides for supporting the tube electrodes directly upon are ofthe plu connection type.

the sealing cabinet whether said electrodes g or jack type or of the wired YVhere, however, the electrode connections are of the wired type, it is necessary to open the cabinet in order to effect the necessary} connection within the cabinet. This entails danger of accidental contact with live pants and in fact such a connection cannot be made safely without first opening the si circuit.

It is, therefore, another object o my present invention to automatically open the circuit by the opening of the cover so that when the cover is openedthe circuit is opened or dead. This permits making the necessary electrode connections safely and without danger of*contact with live parts. At the same time the parts withinthexbox are alliacces that the cabinet be mounted with its larger 1930. Serial No. 446,039.

sible. The closing of the cover of the cabinet automatically closes the circuit so that the necessity ofopening and closing the cabinet and separately openin and closing the cir- Wienever the cabinet is closed the circuit is closed and whenever it is opened the circuit is opened.

I also find that the previous devices do not It is also desirable in some situations that the cabinet be adapted for mounting with its larger cross-sectional axis disposed vertically and in other situations it is desirable cross-sectional axis disposed horizonta ly. The bulk of the previous inner sealing box and outer cabinet devices has practically precluded many of these arrangements. It is, therefore, another object-of my pres.- ent invention to provide a cabinet having a wider range of adaptability in the manner of mounting or support, thereby enabling a more universal adaptability of the device to meet various requirements, not only with reference to the arrangement of the cabinet but also with reference to the arrangement of the gaseous tube sign with respect thereto.

The .invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of F i re 1;

Figure 3'is a bottom plan ,view 0 the embodiment of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail section taken. on the line 4-450f Figure 3 and showing the cover in closed positlon; c Figure 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 4, showing the cover in open position;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view, showing another embodiment with the 110 volt supply line entering through the end of the cabinet and showing the cabinet mounted directly upon an overhead support and suspended therefrom;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the embodiment shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an end view of theembodiment of Figures 6 and 7;

Figure 9 is a front elevational view of anthe embodicabinet; and

Figures 14 and 15 are perspective views on a reduced scale showing further embodiments of the invention.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 5 the cabinet is of generally rectangular configuration and preferably of sheet metal or the like, having a top wall 5, a bottom wall 6, a back wall 7 end walls 8 and 9 and an open front provided with a cover 10, hinged at 11 and 12 to the front edge of the top Wall 5; The

cover 10 may be provided marginally with a flange 13, adapted to receive and embrace externally the margins of the top, bottom and end walls of the cabinet adjacent the open front, it being understood that this marginal flange 13 and the hinges 11 and 12 are suitably formed to permit swinging the cover to open and closed position about the hinges 11 and 12s Internally the cabinet is divided by the partitions 15 and 16, preferably of sheet metal into an intermediate compartment 17 and end compartments 18 and 19. The margins of the partitions 15 and 16 adjacent the top wall 5 and bottom wall 6 are secured to these walls preferably by spot welding or the like, at 20 and 21, the adjacent margins of the partitions 15 and 16 being preferably turned at substantially right angles for this purpose, as shown in Figure 2. Each of the partitions 15 and 16 is provided with a circular opening 24 for an insulating bushing 25, these bushings being shown in axial alignment and one of the partitions, to wit: the

, partition 15 in the embodiment shown is provided with an additional oblong opening 26 for an insulating bushing 27.

The transformer which is preferably designed so as to have leakage between the primary andisecondary in order to give a substantially constant secondary current is shown more or less diagrammatically in dotted lines at 30 and is sealed in a compound 31 directly within the compartment '17 of the cabinet. The opposite sides or leads of the primary of the transformer 30 are connected to terminals 32 on the insulating bushing 27 and one of these terminals is connected at 33 with one side of the 110 volt supply line 34; The opposite side of the line 34 is connected with the other terminal 32 preferablythrough a switch 35 and a condenser 36 is preferably connected between the supply line and the primary side of the trans formeras by connection between the switch 35 and one of the terminals 32 as shown. In this embodiment the 110 volt supply line is shown as entering through the top wall of the cabinet and this top wall is provided with an opening for a typical Federal bushing 38, for sealing theentry of the supply line. The details of the bushings per se so far described may vary widely and they may be attached in any suitable or preferred manner as well known in the art.

In this embodiment the neon or other gaseous tube sign indicated fragmentarily at 40 is shown as suspended or depending from the bottom wall 6 of the cabinet and the gaseous tube is of the type provided with electrode or terminalportions 41 which enter the cabinet and are wired at 42 to terminals 43 on the bushing 25, the high tension or secondary leads of the transformer being insulated through the partitions 15 and 16 by the bushings 25 and electrically connected to the terminals 43. For receiving the terminal or electrode ends of the tube the bottom wall 6 is provided with openings 45, which ,openings are in turn provided with suitable insulating bushings 46. The bushings 46 are tubular for the insertion and removal of the electrode ends of the tube therethrough and are provided with shoulders 47 which abut the outer side of the bottom Wall 6. The inner projecting ends of the bushings 46 may be grooved at 48 and may be held in place in the openings 45 by split clamps 49, comprising semi-circular sections clamped together in grooves 48 by screws 50, these clamps 49 cooperating with the inner side of the bottom wall 6 to hold the bushings firmly in place ported directly upon the sealing cabinet. Any suitable means such as clips or means means cooperating with the insulating bushings 46 may be provided for holding or se-' curing the electrodes in place. Of course the gaseous tubes of signs of this sort are freequently provided with supporting fittings outside the cabinet. It is intended that the present construction shall cover the supporting of the tube electrodes directly upon the sealing cabinet with or without additional supporting meansfor the tube. Various backings have also been employed'with tubes of this sort and in some instances the tube has been supported outside the cabinet by attaching the tube to the backing by means of suitable fittings. Such a backing provi-, sion and supporting of the tube thereon may be employed or omitted within the scope of the present invention, as may any other practice now in use.

The important aspect of the invention as thus far described is the sealing of the transformer directly within the cabinet and th supporting or application of the tube electrode or electrodes directly to the cabinet.

The switch 35 shown is generally of the type illustrated in the patent to- Guett, No. 1,511,809. It comprises an insulating frame 60, carrying a pair of contacts-61 insulated from each other and the switch is snap operated by an arm 62 which, with an insulating arm 63 constitutes a toggle mechanism, the lower'end of the arm 63 carrying a bridging roller contact 64 which is adapted to bridge QIId COIIIIGCt the terminals 61 when the lever 62 is depressed. The roller 64 operates upon an arcuate track 65.

As the lever 62 is depressed the toggle lesealing vers approach a straight line and as they pass the center a spring 66 collapses the toggle in theopposite direction with a snap action and forces the bridging contact 64 into engagement with the terminals 61; The lever 62 is normally held in projected position and the switch openby a spring 67 and the switch is so disposed as by mounting upon the inner side of one end of the cabinet that when the cover 10 is closed it depresses the lever 62 and closes the circuit through the cabinet. As the cover 10 is raised or opened as shown in Figure 5 the lever 62 is released and the switch snaps to open position and opens the circuit of the device. It is to be understood; that the switch may be mounted upon one of the partitions or in any other suitable position for cooperation with the cover 10.

-For the purpose of mounting this embodiment of the invention the top wall 5, along the opposite end compartments 18 and 19, is provided with openings 70 for receiving fittings 71 (Figure 2) by-means of which a chain 7 2 or the like is attached to the top of the cabinet and this chain is adapted for supporting the box in suspended position. The. sealing of the transformer directly within the cabinet andthe supporting of the electrodes of the gaseous tube means directly'on the sealing cabinet enables the elimination of structures heretofore required and also enables a reduction in the bulk and space required for the device." i

The reduced bulk lends itself to the chain ,mounting shown and great stability may be obtainedwith such mounting. The disposition of the end compartments'18 and 19'beyond the ends of the intermediate transformer compartment 17 provides compartments through which attachment of the chain 72 from the inside may be readily effected if desired and at the same time these end com-- partments dispose the chain connections lon- I gitudinally beyond the ends of the intermediate transformer compartment.

, The embodiment of Figures 6, 7 and 8 is substantially the same as the preceding embodiment except the 110 volt supply line 34 enters through an insulating bushing 38 in the end wall 8 of the cabinet and in this case, instead of the chain hanger mounting, angle brackets 74 are secured along the upper marginal edges of the end walls 8' and are adapted for attachingthe cabinet directly to the 'ceiling or to an overhead support 7 5 in depending position therefrom.

The cabinet of the present invention lends itself to this mounting and'where' such a mounting isemployed the cabinet is preferably spaced beneath the support to permit swinging the cover to open or closed position without removing the cabinet from the sup port. Again in this emhodiment the gaseous tube sign 40' isshown as depending beneath the bottom of thecabin'et.

It is to be understood that either cabinet might be supported in inverted position as shown in Figure. 13 with the gaseous tube sign 78 supported in upright-position thereon, the cabinet in that case being illustrated at 79, or as shown in Figure 12, the cabinet 7 9'- may be provided with bracket means 80 for attaching the same to a back support with the gaseous tube means 78 depending therefrom or supported in upright position upon the top thereof, as desired. As another alternative the electrode ends of the tube maybe turned at right angles or some other .angle so that the gaseous tube may be disposed generally vertically with the cabinet disposed generally horizontally or vice versa.

In the embodiment of Figures 9, 10 and 11, I have shown a sealed-in type device embodying the invention for use with tubes of the jack plug connection type. In this case the end compartments are omitted and the transformer 80 is sealed in the compound 81 directly within the case 82 which may be of sheet metal as before and has a top or cover 83, a bottom 84, a back wall 85, end walls 86 I and a front wall 87. In this case the 110 volt clamped or otherwise mounted inplace and the inner ends of the axial openings 92 are provided with shoulders 93 to which are clamped by means of metal discs 94 and bolts 95, socket terminals 96,'the jaws of which are preferably split and preferably have sufiicient springiness to assure good contact with the plug contact sleeves 98 at the electrode ends of the tube 99 as illustrated.

Obviously, the tube 99 may be connected to i the cabinet of Figures 9 and 10 and supported simply by-plugging the terminals 98 into the contact or terminal sockets 96 and by withdrawing the tube the circuit is opened. Access for internal connection of the tube being unnecessary the cover is not shown of the hinged type and the circuit being opened by the withdrawal of the tube from the socket terminals 96 the switch means is omitted. It is to be understood that thecover 83 may be secured in place by screws or the like and may be adapted to be removed by sliding it from position after first removing the screws, or it may be otherwise adapted to be opened to permit access to the interior of the cabinet. As before, the transfomer. is sealed directly in the cabinet and the tube electrodes are supported directly upon the sealing cabinet.

In this embodiment the back wall 85 is shown as provided with hanger means 100 for suspending the device from a chain or the like with the bushings 90 directed downwardly. This cabinet 82 is also shown as being provided at its opposite ends with brackets or mounting feet 102, comprising angular clips with one leg of each secured to the adjacent end wall of the cabifiet and the other leg adapted to be attached to a support for mounting the cabinet in horizontal position as shown in Figure 9, or in vertical position upon a back or front support. Thismakes the cabinet more or less universally adaptable to different mountings and disposition upon different supports and in di -ferent positions. By the elimination of the end cabinets the bulk is further reduced and in addition to the hangers 100 and mounting brackets 102 additional mounting brackets may be provided along opposite sides of the cabinet for mounting the same horizontally, vertically and upon a back, front, overhead or base support.

The foregoing description covers various forms of the cabinet type transformer embodying the present invention but the invention is not limited to these particular embodiments. In Figure 14 for example, the transformer 125 is again housed directly in the cabinet 126' which may have legs 127 for supportingthe cabinet upon an underlying the posts 133 and connected into circuit in the manner of Figures 1 and 2. Thesupply line is indicated at 134.

In Figure 15 the tube 138 is suspended be .neath the cabinet 139 which may have suspended support by means of a chain 139'. The electrodes 140 may have jack plug and socket connection at 141 in electrode housings sealed inthe case similar to the embodiment shown in Figure 11 in which case no switch is necessary, or connection of the electrode of the tube may be effected by providing the casewith open ends and making the connection in these open ends as in Figures 1 and 2. In this case the cabinet will preferably be provided with a cover and there will also preferably be a switch controlled by the opening and closing of the cover as in Figures 1 and 2. Tube supports may be provided at 142,these supports being attached to the cabinet 139 and having hooked ends 143 hooking beneath the tube portions 144 for supporting the tube from the cabinet. The supports 142 may be attached. to the cabinet or formed in a manner which will permit the hooked ends to be swung out of engagement with the tube to permit removal and replacement of the tube. The supporting chain shown at 139 and the supply line is indicated at 146.

I claim: 1

1. The combination with a cabinet for gaseous tube signs, of a transformer sealed directly in said cabinet, a pair of insulating bushings supported directly upon said sealing cabinet, a gaseous tube having electrodes entering the sealing cabinet directly through said bushings and supported directlyon said cabinet, a third insulating bushing also supported directly upon said sealing cabinet, a current supply line entering-said cabinet directly through said third bushing, a cover adapted for closing said'cabinet and movable to open and closed positions and switch means mounted upon said cabinet and cooperating with said cover to open the circuit within the cabinet by the opening of said cover and closing the circuit within the cabinet by the closing of said cover.

2. A cabinet for gaseous tube signs divided by internal partitions into three compartments disposed longitudinally and end to end,

a transformer sealed directly in the inter mediate compartment, insulating bushings supported directly upon said cabinet adjacent the end compartments and a gaseous tube having electrodes entering the end compartments through said bushings and connected with the secondary side of the transformer.

3. A cabinet for gaseous tube signs divided by internal partitions into three compartments disposed longitudinally and end to end,

a transformersealed directly in the intermediate compartment, first insulating bushings supported directly upon said cabinet adjacent the end compartments, second insulating bushings mounted on said partition, .a gaseous tube having electfodes entering the end compartments through said first bush ings and connected with the secondary side of the transformer through said second bu'shings, an additional insulating bushing on oneof said partitions and a current supply line entering the cabinet and connected with the primary side of the transformer through said last bushing.

5. Acabinet by internal partitions into three compartments disposed longitudinally and end to end,

-- a transfqrmer sealed directly in the intermediate compartment, first insulating bushings supported dinectly upon said cabinet ad- 'acent the end compartments, second insulat-- mg bushings mounted on said partitions, a gaseous tube havin electrodes entering the end compartments t rough said first bushings A and connected with the secondary side of the transformer through said second bushings, an additional insulating bushing on one of said partitions, a current supply'hne entering the cabinet and connected with the primary side of,the transformer throu h said last bushing, a cover hinged to said cabinet and adapted for closin all of said compartments, said cover being swingable to openand to closed position, a switch disposed within one of the end compartments, said switch being connected in the tube circuit and cooperating with the cover for openin the circuit by opening of the cover and closing the circuit by closing the cover.

6. A cabinet for gaseous tube signs divided by internal partititions into three compartments disposedlongitudinally and end for gaseous tube signs divided to end, a transformer sealed directly in the intermediate compartment, first insulating bushings supported directly upon said cabinet adjacent the end compartments, second insulating bushings mounted on said partition, a gaseous tube having electrodes entering the end compartments through said first bushings and connected with the secondary side of the transformer through said second bushings, an additional insulating bushing on one of said partitions, a 'current supply line entering the cabinet and connected with the primary side of the transformer through said last bushing, a cover hinged to said cabinet and adapted for closing all of said compartments, said cover being swingable to open and to closed positions, a switch disposed within one of the end compartments, said switchbeing connected in the tube circuit and cooperating with the cover for opening the circuit by .opening of the cover and closing the circuit by closing the cover, an insulating cabinet for said current supply line, and a condenser disposed within one of the end bushing mounted directly on the compartments and connected in the primary side of said transformer.

7. A cabinet for gaseous tube signs divided by internal partitlons into three compartments disposed longitudinally and end to end,

a transformensealed directly in the inter- I mediate compartment, first insulating bushings supported directly upon said cabinet adjacent the end compartments, second insulating'bushings mounted on 'said partitions, a v

gaseous tube having electrodes entering the end compartments through said firstbushings and connected with the secondary side of the transformer through said second bushings, an additional insulating bushing on one of said partitions, a current supply line entering the cabinet and connected with the primary side of the transformer through said last bushing, a cove rhinged to said cabinet and adapted for closingall of said compartments, said cover being swingable to open and to closed positions, a switch disposed within one of the end compartments, said switch being connected in the'tube circuit and cooperating with the cover for opening the circuit. by opening of the cover and closing the circuit by closing the cover, and meanson'said cabinet for universally adapting same to different mountings and for appllcation to different supports andin different positions.

8. The combination with a cabinet for gaseous tube signs, of a transformer sealed directly in said cabinet, an insulating bushing supporteddirectly upon said cabinet, a shoulder at the outer end of said bushing coopcrating with one side of the wall of the cabi net, a splitvclamp cooperating with the opposite side of said wall and with said. bushing for securingsaid bushing in place, said Z and a gaseous intermediate compartment, an insulating compound enclosing said transformer and filling said intermediate compartment only, tube having electrodes entering said end compartments and connected with said transformer in said end compartments.

10. In a cabinet for gaseous tubes the combination of a pair of end compartments, an

intermediate compartment disposed between said end compartments, a transformer in said intermediate compartment, an insulating compound enclosing said transformer and filling said intermediate compartment only, and a gaseous tube having electrodes entering said end compartment and connected with said transformer in said end compartments, said cabinet having side enclosing walls common to said end compartments and said intermediate compound filled compartment.

11. 'In a cabinet for gaseous tubes the comintermediate compartment disposed between said end compartments, a transformer in said intermediate compartment, an insulating compound enclosing said transformer and filling said intermediate compartment only,

a gaseous tube having electrodes entering said end compartments and connected with said transformer in said end compartments, said cabinet having side enclosing walls common to said end compartments and said intermediate compound filled compartment, partitions within the cabinet separating said end compartments from said intermediate compartment, and insulating bushings on' said artitions for the connections between the tu e electrodes and said transformer.

12. The combination with a cabinet for gaseous tube signs, of a transformer sealed in insulating compound directly in said cabinet, a pair of insulating bushings mounted directly upon a wall of said transformer sealing cabinet, said bushings opening outwardly through said wall and'extending' inwardly into the interior of said sealing cabinet, contact means on theinner ends of said insulating bushings and directly within the sealing cabinet, a gaseous tube having a visible illuminated portion and end portions directly en-- tering the transformer sealing cabinet through said insulating bushings, and contacts on the end portions of said tube, said tube contacts disconnectibly engaging the contacts on the inner ends of said insulating bushings.

13. The combination with a cabinet for gaseous tube signs, of a transformer sealed in insulating compound directly in said cabinet, a pair of insulating bushings mounted directly upon a wall of said transformer sealing cabinet, a gaseous tube having a visible illuminated portion and end portions directly entering the transformer sealing cabinet-through said insulatingbushings, said insulating bushings. being positioned one be yond each of the opposite ends of the transformer and the ends of the tube being connected in circuit with the transformer directlywithin the transformer sealing cabinet and at opposite ends of said transformer.

14. The combination with a cabinet for gaseous tube signs, of a transformer sealed in insulating compound directly in'said cabinet, a pair of insulating bushings mounted directly upon a wall of said transformer sealing cabinet, a gaseous tube having a visible illuminated portion and end portions directly entering the transformer sealing cabinet through said insulating bushings, a third insulating bushing supported directly upon said cabinet, a current supply line entering the cabinet directly through said "third inply line with the transformer. bination of a pair of end'compartments, an

15. The combination with acabinet for gaseous tube signs, of a transformer sealed in a body of insulating compound directly in said cabinet, a pair of insulating bushings mounted directly upon a wall of said-- 16. The combination with a cabinet for gaseous tube signs, of a transformer sealed in a body of insulating compound directly in said cabinet, means along the top of the cabinet for suspending said cabinet from a support, a pair of insulating bushings mounted directly upon the bottom of the sealing cabinet, a gaseous tube having connector means passing through said insulating bushings and connected to said transformer, partition means forming a compartment at the end of the cabinet and separating said end compartment from the transformer sealing part of thecabinet, a third insulating bushing supporting directly upon a wall of the sealing cabinet at said end compartment, switch means at said end compartment, and a current supply line entering the end com partment of the sealing cabinet through said third insulating bushing and connected to said switch means.

17. The. combination with a cabinet for gaseous tube signs, of a transformer sealed in a body of insulating compound directly in said cabinet, a pair of insulating bushings mounted directly upon a wall of the sealing zabinet beyond the opposite ends of said transformer, a gaseous tube having terminals entering the bushings beyond the opposite ends of the transformer and connected to said transformer, a third insulating bushing supported directly upon said sealing cabinet and a current supply line entering the cabinet through said third insulating bushing and connected to said transformer.

18. The combination with a cabinet for gaseous tube signs, of a transformer sealed in a body of insulating compound directly in said cabinet, a pair of sign-tube bushings insulatingly mounted directly upon a wall of said cabinet, a tube having connecting means through said bushings to said transformer, a third insulating bushing supported directly upon a wall of the cabinet, a current-supply line entering through said third bushing, and switch means mounted within and supported by said cabinet to control the current through the said supply line, said third bushing and said switch being 1n a separate compartment within the cabinet.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 18th day of April, 1930.

JAMES C. DALEY. 

